The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-09-02
AMERICAN AssoCIATIoN.
NoRTHWFsTERN LEAGUE,
LAKES, DROUTHS AND CY-
CLONES.
From H;Ts National Builder.

During a recent journey to Europe the
passage across the ocean was especially
unpleasant because of fogs, the Only con-
ISOLATION in contemplating them being
that they represented the work of nature
in drawing moisture from the waters
which, waited inland, fell upon the soil
in refreshing rain, gathered in the brook,
and rivers, and flowed to the sea, to be
again sent thus back to freshen and
brighten the parched earth.
The speed of our vessel was materially
retarded by winds from the west, a COM
mon occurrence in the summer season.
The fogs and moisture through these
winds are driven upon the Continent,
where drouth seldom prevails, and par
ticularly do they freshen the verdure of
ireland, and hence the brilliant green of
the Emerald Isle.
In rejecting upon this subject, con-
templated the drouth then prevailing in
several of the Western and Middle States
of the Union. What had they to gather
rains from! Alas what have they !?
For generation our farmers have been
draining their lands of moisture. They
have run their thing through every
slough they have drawn out the water
from every swamp they have dried up
the pond they have obliterated the
beautiful little lake. In doing this they
have made such easy and rapid egress
for rainfall from the soil as to endanger
the homes and farm lands of all the
settlers along the great rivers in the
southern regions of our country, already
inficting great distress, loss of life, and
property equaling in value many mil
lions of dollars-an evil which is growing
in magnitude each year.
The result of this wholesale draining of
the upper country of water is not only
thus disastrous to life and property along
the larger streams, from frequent over
flow, but there is such absolute drainage
of moisture from the earth as to produce
severe drouth, accompanied by such in
tense heat and dryness of atmosphere as
results in the hurricane, the cyclone and
innumerable village, prairie and forest
fires.
In the early days, when the process of
evaporation of moisture went forward
from the swamps, the ponds and the
lakes of our Western and Middle States,
an extended drouth, with extremely in
tense heat, was a rare occurrence. In
those days suns.roke was very uncom-
mon, and the cyclone was comparatively
unknown. This year we are in the sec
ond season of the drouth in various
portions of the country, while every year
brings its devastation from wind, the re-
suit of an excessively dry and frequently
disturbed condition of the atmosphere.
With the land thus denuded of natur-
al water supply, there is but one course
for our farmers to pursue to save them
selves from these evils. They may drain
their soil, but they should gather the
rainfall in ponds and lakes scattered
throughout their lands. Instead of rum
ming the drains through and out of the
swamp, they should lead to an excava-
ton OF such size as circumstances will
permit, which should be made at depth
of three or four feet, WI ere the water can
gather and remain throughout the year,
quenching the thirst of animals, giving
drink to birds, a reservoir in case of fire,
home for fish, a place of beauty on which
one may sail the boat, an opportunity
for the bath and for teaching the young
people to swim. This will yield ice for
the family, provide skating for the happy
youth in winter time, and moisture,
which, through evaporation, will pass
into the cloud to be returned again
through rainfall to the needy earth.
No fear need be entertained Of stag
nation from water thus held in reserve.
Fish will of themselves purify it. Every
rain will change it, while, if the lake COW
ers an acre or more in area, the wind
will constantly keep it pure. In proof
of this the writer has an artificial lake on
his farm, the result of dredging swamp,
which is filled only by rainfall, the water
being in the dryest season always per-
fectly clear and fresh.
On the low lands the general abandon
ment of farms and homes from river
overflow will be the inevitable outcome
of this water wastage in the high
grounds. Such is already the fact, while
the expenditure of many millions of
dollars by the Government in the con
struction of levees and embankments
along the great rivers will be necessary
for the further protection Of adjoining
property. Vastly better that this expen-
diture be made in holding the water
where it is required in the up country.
Dot the farms of our inland States
with ponds and miniature lakes, and
while they will afford health, attraction
and pleasure in thousand ways, they
will give us back the uniform rainfall we
had in the early settlement of the coun-
try, when successive seasons of drouth,